Common Questions & Answers -Travelling New Zealand

We understand that when it comes to planning to travel around a new country, there are a few questions one asks oneself. We, at Coach Journeys New Zealand have tried our upmost best to answer the below frequently asked questions as accurately and honestly as we possibly can.

If you can not find the question and/ or answer that you are looking for, then please contact us and we will provide you with a quick, factual and honest response. We are here to help create your dream coach trip and ensure that any questions or queries you have are 100% answered and you feel confident touring around this beautiful country.

Please see below a list of common questions regarding New Zealand travel and visitor information.

Are You Planning to Travel & Tour New Zealand?

Visiting New Zealand is an incredible experience, there are unique landscaping contrasts upon every turn. For such a small intimate country, with only a population of 5 million, both the North and South Island encompass so many natural, organic, raw beauties. 

New Zealand is an incredibly diverse and breathtaking country. Choosing to travel here is a great choice. Although New Zealand is relatively small in size, it packs a lot of beautiful locations from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island. 

The most iconic attractions and landscapes are all within easy reach of each other in terms of transport and ease of access. The most accessible and stunning way to travel to enjoy the scenery is by coach. There are also some iconic rail experiences that journey the North and South Island of New Zealand across incredible landscapes. Some of our best-selling coach tour packages include rail options too.

How to travel from the North Island to the South of New Zealand?

There are two ferry operators that cruise between the islands departing from Picton (North) and arriving in Wellington (South) and vice versa. The ferries are a very popular connection to travel across the islands and we highly recommend booking these in advance as there are only set amounts of seats and departures. You are able to travel with your rental car on board the ferry also. You can fly between both Islands which is more convenient and flights are quite inexpensive. 

Other airports include Auckland International Airport (AKL) located on the North Island and termed the “gateway” for most tourists, Wellington International Airport (WLG) on the southern tip of the North Island, Christchurch International Airport (CHC) on the South Island and Queenstown International Airport (ZQN). Picton and Christchurch are the main gateways to the South Island, but you can also fly to Queenstown, the adrenaline-rushing capital of the south. Most international travelers start their journey in Auckland and end in Christchurch.

Weather in New Zealand

Every season is quite defined, the cherry blossom comes out in Spring, the snow falls in Winter, the leaves drop in Autumn and the sun radiates a lot of heat for a long time in Summer. The majority of the country is close to the coast, which means that the temperature is relatively mild. 

As you travel South, you will feel that the average temperature drops as you get closer to the snow capped Alps. January and February are by far the warmest months of the year with July being the coldest - but great for skiing and snowboarding or a glass of mulled wine besides a fire.

Should I visit the North or South Island of New Zealand?

New Zealand is made up of two islands - North Island and South Island. The attractions of New Zealand’s North Island range from coastal attractions near Auckland to the Hawke’s Bay and Wellington wine regions. If you visit the North Island in the summer, you can enjoy kilometers of beautiful beaches, natural hot springs, geothermal activity and lush rainforests.

You can also visit the famous Hobbiton - for the Lord of the Rings enthusiasts! Located close to Rotorua in the North Island you can visit Peter Jacksons movie set and jump into a hobbit hole after having a relaxing beer or wine at the green dragon pub!

The South Island boasts so many natural wonders such as Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park - home to the highest mountains and longest Glaciers, set under a starry night. Queenstown is also a very popular location, overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps. This is a town where you can see and do it all, from Bungy jumping, skydiving, Ziplining and horse trekking! 

A must-see is milford Sound - cruise overnight and wake up to dramatic waterfalls and wild Dolphins. The wild West Coast showcases stunning glaciers nestled next to native deep green rainforest, this is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Our recommendation is to tour both Islands for the ultimate New Zealand holiday.

Contact our local New Zealand touring team for more travel information below.